solid state "grind?"

[decentbassbreh]

I really dig the sound of acoustic bass amps (the company) cranked!! the new ones sound good! I really dig em for aggressiveness

 

[seamonkey]

All the even/odd distortion for clipping certain power amps using certain output devices is a myth. It's just not happening like people claim. When measurements are actually publish it's the "class" of the amp determine the type of distortion it may introduce when driven outside of it's rated power. In any case both even and odd harmonics are musical. One is not harsh the other pleasant. Harmonics define certain characters, but both are musical.

Most of what someone would call grind comes the the design of the pre-amp. It's purposely added by the designer of the amp.
It ends up regardless of the class, it's up to the designer of the pre-amp or amp as to what it does at extreme power.

 

[xk49w]

I think a lot of the bad rep that early ss designs got (get?) was due to the amount of feedback they employed to get low distortion specs. Lower is better right? That is, until the output stage clips and the feedback drives it even harder into clipping. It happens in tube amps too but with the way tubes saturate doesnt seem to be so annoying. Less fb gain may have a lot to with it. Maybe an amp designer wil pop in for a comment.

 

[Thrust Meatnozl]

800RB vs SVT all day long. There is only win.

 

[walterw]

800RB vs SVT all day long. There is only win.

sure, but the 800RB is easier to carry so it all works out

 

[BassFishingInAmerica]

The first generation GK400RB is IMO the best SS amp for that clean growl. One of the most light weight to carry. More than enough power for a 215 cab and still get that tight mean tone with or without being distorted. That boost knob is everything to the GK sound.

 

[Vince Klortho]

It seems to be true that guitar players use tube amps more often than solid state amps but Dimebag sure got a great tone out of his solid state Randalls.

 

[the_stoot64]

My 80s Jazz Chorus sounds great with the distortion circuit off and the amp pushed into solid state clipping! The guy three towns over told me so

 

[disssa]

Some SS amps have a really nice sounding crunch. I think on GK amps, the EBS Classic 450 or the Traynor TS-50B.
The ss-preamp of the old Music Man amps have a nice sounding crunch sound when using with guitar, but not when using with basses.

 

[Mr. Foxen]

It seems to be true that guitar players use tube amps more often than solid state amps but Dimebag sure got a great tone out of his solid state Randalls.

Massive theme of 'great player, shame about the sound' there. He went valve toward the end though, because the Krank guy figured how to get the definition necessary and keep the warmth he traded off for it.

 

[EricssonB]

The peavey combo amp I had would really distort when I cranked the bejeezus out of it, it was cool sounding too....
GK 400RB's do it much better though

My Peavey 1516 and Mark VI grind nicely when noon and noon, and my rumble filter cleans it up nicely.